Motor-vehicle.



B. D. BARROW,

v MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2D, I!!! Y PatentedSept.17',1918.

W115 ness B. D. BARROW.

MOTOR VEI'HGLES.

APPLICATION mm 0C.20.19I5;

0 1,27 9,222; l mented Sept. 17, 1918.

2 SIIEETSMSHEET 2. Q3

fmrenlq r g Wt)! mess Wardly from the supgnsri UNITED STATES rxrnxtr OFFICE.

is BENJAMIN D. BARROW, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIg-NOR T PACKARD MOTOR'CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

MOTOR-VEHICLE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sepr. 1'7, 19115.

Application filed December 20, 1915; Serial No. 67,864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN D. Blini now. a citizen ot the United btates, and

resident of Detroit, Wayne county, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVlotor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

, This invention relates to motor vehicles,

'and particularly todriving axles therefor.

jMore especially, the invention relates to that .fOi'Ill of driving axle in which the differ ential is arranged trzrnsversely of the axle shaft. Some of the features of the invention, however, are not necessarily limited to such forn'i off axle, but may be used'in axles of other types or in other combinations. V l

()ne .of the olnects oi the invention is it;

produce an axle of the above form in. which the axle shafts may be axially drawn ant- .3 tructure Another object or the ,nvvi en to produce an axle of the above liIOIlU in which each of the driving pinions is arranged inside of the gear opposite that with which it is in mesh whereby shorter driving sleeves ma be used.

nother object of the invention is to pro vide arrigidly clutched driving connection between the axle shafts and their respective gears.

Another object of the invention is to produce an axle in which each of the driving shafts is supported at its outer end and has a detachable but rigidly clutched driving connection at its lnncrrend w th its respective gear. -(.)therobjects of the invention will appear from the foll 'ivving description taken in connection with; the drawings which form a part hereofyamlin which:

' lfig'urel is' a longitudinal. section and part plan viewof. a motor vehicle axle embody mg this invention;

Fig. 2: lS an enlarged plan View ofthe gear supporting member of the axle;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the parts shown nil ig. 2

Fig. 41 is an enlarged detail view'of the differential gearing; A

Fig. 4* is a transverse section on the hue i 4" ofFlg', 4;

- forwardly extending part lli ofthe cover :13,

through the stltids 27 and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of the expanding clutch connection between the axle shaft and its gear; 55

Fig, (3 is a transverse section on the; line (5-43 of Fig. 5; and. 1

Fig. 7 tl-YlBW similar to Fig. 5, showing.

a modified form of the connection between i the axle and its gear. 60

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents the supportingstructure of the axle of a. motor vehicle, the middle portion of which structure is enlarged and formed with front and rear openings 11 and 12 respectively. 86 The front opening 11 is closed by a cover 13 which may be in the form of a casting forsupportin all of the beari of the gears and she ts arranged at the rrhddle portion of the axle, The rear opening l2vis 'm closed by av detachable cap 14. K I

The cover 13 has aforvvardl extending part 15 for supporting an annular bearing 16, and there is a detachable rearwardlyexlending part 17 which is secured to lugs 18 and 19 formed integral, with the covert 13, as by bolts 20. This rearwerdly extending part. or bracket 17 supports an annular hearing unit 21 which is retained therein bywa screw cap 22. li id A drivingshaft 23 extends transversely of the axle through the front end-{of 1th and is supported on ,,the imnnlar hearings 16 and 21. Suitable packing 24 may be pro-" 86 vide'd at the front end of the extension '15 for the purpose of preventing lubricant-from escaping at'that po1nt.. a V Afaproximately at the middle of that part of tie driving shaft 23 which is-oont-aincd within the axle, is mounted adifi'erential mechanism 25. It is shown in some detail in 4e and i". This mechanism com prises a pair of difi'erential pinions 26 mounted on laterally extending studs 27,1 and driven bevel gears 28 in mesh with the pinions 26 and mounted directly on the, driving shaft 23; The pinions26"arez retained on the studs 27 by a two' parflboit 29,,- eachof the.v arts of which aconiprises lu. ifflq head 30 and a s ink 31,- These shanks 31 extend into a drilled opening 32 formed the shaft 23, the

inner ends of the shanks passing each other and being formed with hooks or shoulders 33 between which a wedge 34 may be driven to draw and hold the two parts of the bolt 29 together. The wedge 34- inay be inserted and removed through a transverse opening :55 formed in the shaft. 225 and it is drawn and held in place by a nut 34:.

Each of the driven bevel gears above referred it. is formed as an integral. part of a sleeve 36, upon the outer ends of which are bevel driving pinions 37. A thrust sleeve. 38 is screwed onto the shaft immediately forward of the front. betel gear 37, as shown particularly in Fig. l, and a thrust sleeve 31) is arranged on the shaft 23 back of the rear driving pinion 37 and between it and the inner race of the bearing 21. The inner race of said bearing 21 is retained on the shaft. 23 by a retaining bolt l0. which is threaded into the rear end of the shaft. A. locking d ice in the form of a cotter pin 41 is shown as (Xlltlitllllg through the thrust sleeve 39, the shaft 22). and the retaining bolt -l-ll. to thereby loch the bolt in place and prevent rotation of the sleeve 39 on the shaft 23. A pair of oppositely facing bevel driven gears 42 are mounted in the axle in slightly offset relation to each other. in annular hearing units 43. These bearings 43 are mounted in the cover 13 above referred to by being clamped between the lugs 18 and 19 and the bracketv or rearwardly extending part. 17 of the cover. Also the bearings are retained on the hubs 44 of the gears by a threaded collar 45.

As above observed. the gears 4:2 are ar ranged in offset: or staggered relation to each other. and. it. will be observed that eeeh'of them is in mesh with one of the pinions 3?. As shown the forward pinion 3'] is in mesh with the gear 4::- on the left handj sido in Fig. 1 and the rear driving pinion in mesh. with the right hand bevel gear '43 Since the left hand gear 42- is arranged reqr wardly of a point midway between the axes of the gears 42. and the righthand gear 42 is arranged forwardly thereof, it. follows that the forward pinion 37 while mg'l'ihing with the teeth on the left hand gear 42 is nested \vithin the periphery of the opposite gear.

Also the rear pinion 37 being in mesh with the right hand gear +2 is nested within the left hand gear. In other words, each of the pinions :57 is arranged radially inward of the gear opposite the one with which it is in mesh. This arrangement of pinions 3'? permits of the use of shorter sleeves 36 be tween said pinions and the bevel gears 28 of th di'llerential mechanism, thereby deereasin; the difficulties ofhardening the gears.

.\t each of the outer ends of the supportlug structure 10 is a wheel 4-6, having a hub 47 the outer end of which is formed with teeth 48 which are arranged to clutch with driver extending teeth 49 on a flange 50 of an axle section 51. A hub cap 52 is threaded on the end of the hub 47 to thereby cover the clutch engagement of-the hub and axle section and retain lubricant.

The hub 47 and the outer end of the axle section 51 are supported upon the outer end of the axle by a pair of separated bearing units 53, 54. A sleeve 55 on the axle forms an inner abutment for the bearing 54, a sleeve 50 separates that hearing from the bearing 53, and a threaded collar 57 at the end of the aXle retains the bearings andeonsequently the wheel in place.

It will be seen that'theconnection of the outer end of the axle shaft 51 with the hub 47 is a detachable one and that so far as this connection is concerned the axle shaft 51 may he ren'ioved from the axle by simply removing the hub cap 52.

A The axle shaft 5i is hollow or of tubular form and is supported at its inner end in the hub ll; of one of the gears 42. It. is shown as detachably but rigidly connected to Said gear hub by an expanding clutch connection so that there may be no play between these parts. As shown particularly in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the hub 44 of the gear 42 is formed with clutch teeth 58 and a.

60 which interlock with the clutch teeth 58.

The extreme inner end of the shaft.- 51 Fits snugly Within. the hollow hub 44 and is split longitudinally as at 61 so that it may be expanded in said hub. Said inner end is also formed interiorly of slightly conical shape and a. wedge shaped expanding bolt ()2 is inserted/through the shaft from its outer end and threaded into the web portion 63 of the gear 452: Thus by using a. long screw through the shaft:- 51 the expanding bolt 69. may be tightened and the split end of the shaft 51 expanded in the hub 44. This forms a rigid but detachable connection between said shaft 51 and the gear 42.

A slightly modified form of this clutch construction is shown in Fig. 7 in which the ear 42 instead of being formed with a we portion 63 has the interior of its hub 44 drilled all the. way through and a ring 63*is inserted in the hub and held therein by a series of pins 64 screwed through. the hub from the outside. These pins are insured against backing out by having the inner race of the bearing 43 placed on the hub 4st over their heads and retained thereon by the threaded collar 45. The'expanding bolt (32 acts the same in this case as in the construction shown in Fig. 5.

=-()ther forms of the invention may also be, made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pateat, is:--

1. In an axle, in combination, a supporting structure, gearing mounted at the middle 6 of said structure, hollow axle shafts, and a detachable connection between each of said shafts and said gearing, said eonneetion being accessible through the shaft from the outer end thereofi In an axle, in combination, a simporting structure, gearing mounledat the middle of said structure, hollow axle shafts. and an expanding eluteh (olmeelion aeeeasible through ,the ,shaft between each of said 16 shafts and saidgearing.

3. In an axle. in combination. a supporting structure. a gear al the middle part of said structure ll;l\'lli, 1 a hub. an axle shaft having a split end adapted to lit within said 20 hub, "intm'loehing eonneetions between said shaft and hub. and means expanding said split end insaid hub.

4. In an axle, in combination. a supportin; strut-tum, a gear at the middle part of said Stljl eture having a hub, an axle shaft having split end adapted to, fit within said hub,interlocking connections between said shaft and hub, and a taper screw for expanding said split end in said hub. 801' 5. In an axle, in combination, a supporting structure, a gear mounted in said structure and having; a hub, a hollow axle shaft having a split end adapted to fit within the hub, and a member within said shaft adapt- 86 ed to engage said hub and to expand the split end otum shaft into fixed relation with the hub.

6. In an axleuin eon'ibination, .a support ing structure, a gear mounted in said struc- 40 ture and having a hub, said hub having a. screwthreaded opening, a hollow axle shaft having a split end, adapted to fit within the hub,'and a screw threaded member within said shaft adapted to engage the" opening in 40 said hub and to expand the split end of the shaft into fixed relation with the .hub.

7; In an axle, in combination, a. supporting structure, a gear in said structure, bearings for said gear, aring within the hub of said gear,"screws for holding said ring in fixed positionethe heads of said screws being under said hearings, an axle shaft having a splitendadapted to lit into saidhub, in"- te-rloeking connections between said hub and {said-shaft and means for expanding said split endin said huh.

8. In an axle, in"cdmbination, a supporting structure, a gear in said structure, bearings for saidgear, a ring within the hub of Q0 said gear having a threaded 0' ening, screws for holding said ring'm h'xet posltwng'the heads of said screws being under-said hearingsfan axle shaft havin a split end adapted to fit into said hub. interlocking connec- QQ tions betwe n saidhnb and said shaft, and

I having a foppositelv' 'ends of said axle shafts, a lateral drivin tapered screw threaded means adapled In. engage the, opening in said ring and expand. the split end of said shaft. 9. In an axle. in eonilxinaiion. a i-l||i|HH'l mgr h'll'lH'lllj-O. a gear in said slruelure ha\=70; ing; a hub, :l ring within said hub. arrows for holding said ring in plaee. an axle shalt H adapted to enter said hub. and means eonllt'l'llllg said sha'l't and ring. i J ill. in an axle, in combination. a support-- ingg' strueture. a gear in said Hlrlletuie haw nag a hub, a ring within said hub. screws 'l'or holding said ring in place, a hollow axle shaft having a split end adapted to enter said hub. and means contacting with said 80. split end and said ring i'or expalnlingsaid. shaft.

11. In an axle. in combination, a supporting, structure, a gear in said structure ha ring a hub, a ring within said hub, serews for holding said ring in place, a hollow axle iaft having a split end adapted to enter said hub, and interlocking means for conneetin said shaft and hub. i. 12. he combination with a. driving sl'iaft, 9'0: having differential gears thereon, of a retaining-bolt for part of said gears'colnpris- 2,; mg two parts each having a head and-a.- shank, and a wedge cooperating witlrthe shanks todraw the heads towardieaeh other. 13. The eon'ibination with a drivin shaft,

havinga pair of driving pinions-tiereon;

dili'erenthal gearing connectingsanl pinions, said gearing including a pair of bevel gears arranged with their axes passing through said shaft, a two-part retaining bolt for said bevel gears, and a pin for locking the two parts of. said bolt together. I

14. The combination with a dri viii shaft pair of driving pinions ilG1(EOI1, differ-initial gearing: count-miner said pinions, said gearing including a pen" of bevel gears arranged with their axes passing through said shaft, a two-part retaining bolt for said bevel gears, and a wedge shaped. pin for-.110

drawing and locking the two parts of said 1:.- bolt together. l 15. In an axle, in combination, a support; mg structure, a pair of axle shafts, arrangedn-u in offset and substantially parallel relation, 11 5 oppositely facin bevel gears on the inner-"- 7 ends of'said axle shaftsQa lateral driving shaft arranged between said ears, and-bevel pinions said drivj ig slia t in mesh with the res ati've gears, each" mesh with that side of its gear that is nearest J to a point midway between the pinions. w 16. In'an axle, in combination, mg structure,a )airof axle shaftsarran ed "in oflset and an istantially parallel relation, I25

tai ing bevel gearson the inner shaft arranged between said gears, and bevel pmlons on said driving shaft in mesh with the respective gears, each pinion being arpinion being iii-21m ranged inside of the gear with which it is out. of mesh.

17. In an axle. in eoi'nbii'iation, a support.- iug structure, a pair oi axle shafts arranged in oll'set and substantially parallel relation, op 'iosi'tely faring bevel gears on the. inner ends of said axle shafts, a lateral driving shat't arranged between said gears, and bevel pinions on said driving shaft. in mesh with the respective gears, eaeh pinion being an ranged within the periphery of the gear with which it is not in mesh.

18. In an axle, in combination. a supporting structure, a pair of axle shafts arranged in offset and substantially parallel relation, oppositely faring bevel gears on the inner ends of said axle shafts, a lateral driving shaft arranged between said gears, and bevel pinions on said driving shaft in mesh with the respeetive gears. eaeh pinion being nested within the opposite gear.

19. In an axle. in ei'nnbination, a support.- ing; structure. a pair of axle shal'ts arranged in offset and substantially parallel relation, oppositely lacing bevel gears in the inner ends of said axle shafts, a lateral drivingshaft arranged between said gears, and bevel pinions on said driving shaft in mesh with the respective gears, eaeh pinion being arranged radially inward of the, gear opposite the one with which it is in mesh.

'20. In an axle, in eonibination, a supporting structure, a pair of oppositely facing bevel gears arranged with their axes slightly ollset and substantially parallel, a lateral driving shaft: between said gears. and bevel pinions on said driving shaft eaeli in mesh with the innermost side of a bevel gear.

21. In an axle. in combination, a supporting structure, a pair of oppositely t'aeing bevel gears arranged with their axes slightly otl'set and substantially parallel. a lateral. driving shaft. between said gears, and bevel pinions on said driving shaft each in mesh with one of said gears, eat-h pinion being arranged within. the periphery of the gear opposite the one, with which it is in mesh.

22. In an axle, in combination, a supporting structure, a pair of oppositely facing bevel gears arranged with the' axes slightly offset and substantially parallel, a lateral driving shaft between said gears,difi'erential gearing on said shaft. and pinionsdriven by said gearing and in mesh with said gears, each pinion being arranged within the periphery ot' the opposite gear.

23.111 an axle, in (ltllllllllltll'lOll, a supportin; strueture, a pair of oppositely facing bevel gears arranged with their axes slightly ollset and substantially parallel, a lateral. driving shaft between said gears, bearings for said shaft beyond the peripheries of both said gears, and a pinion on said shaft. in mesh with eaeh gear and inside the teeth of the opposite gear.

24. In an axle, in combination, a supporting struet'ure, oppositely faring bevel gears arranged with their axes slightly offset and substantially parallel, a lateral drivin shaft between, said gears. hearings l'or sai shaft immediately outside of said gears, dil'l'erential gearing on said shaft. drivin pinions operated, by said gearing, tween earh said pinion and the adjacent bearing.

25. In an axle, in t'()l|]l)ll'12lli0ll,tl support;- ing strurture, oppositely facing bevel gears arranged with their axes slightly offset and substantially parallel, a lateral driving shalt bet ween said gears. bearings for said shall immediately outside of said gears, differential gearing on said shait, driving pinions operated b v said gearing, and a sleeve seemed to the shaft betw en eaeh said pin ion and the adjz'u'ent bearing.

an, In an axle. in eombination. a supportin; stru 'ure. oppositely faring bevel gears arranged with their axesv slightly offset and substantially parallel. a lateral driving shal'i la'tween said gears. bearings for said shall immediately outside of said gears, dif ferential gearing on said shaft, driving pinions operated by said gearing, and a thrust sleeve for eaeh said pinion adjacent the teeth of the oppositegear.

27. In an axle, in combination, a supportinn strut-lure. oppositely facing-bevel gears arranged with their axes slightly offsetand substantially parallel, a lateral driving shaft between said g'ars. bearings for said shaft. immediately outside of said gears. differential gearin' on said shaft. driving pinions operated b v said gearing each pinion being in mesh with one gear and radially inward ot the opposite gear. and a thrust sleeve between eat-h said pinion and the ad' jacent bearing.

28. In an axle, in coinbiinition, a support" ing st rueture, a gear mounted in an annular hearing at the middle part of said structure, an axle shaft, and a wheel connected thereto, an annular bearing supporting said wheel and the outer end of said shaft at one end of said strueture, said shaft having its inner end supported by said gear, and a detachable but rigidly clutched driving connection between said gear and shaft.

29. .In an axle, in combination, a supporting structure, a gear mounted inan annular bearing directly in and at the middle part of said structure, an axle shaft in said structure bein" adapted to be assembled therein only from the end of the structure inwardly, a. wheel connected to the outer end of said sbalt, an annular bearing for sup orting said wheel. and the outer end of said shaft at one end of said structure, said shaft hav. ing its inner end supported by said gear,

and a direct driving connection bGt/WQQH,

said gear and shaft.

and a s eeve be-= of sold pieces.

30. In an axle, in combination, a supporting structure, a gear mounted on a bearing unit at the middle of said structure, an axle shaft mounted in said structure and supported at its outer end at one end of the structure, and a detachable but rigidly clutched driving connection between said gear and shaft.

31.;In an axle, in combination, a supporting strue'ture, a gear mounted on a bearing unit at the middle of aid structure, an axle shaft mounted in said structure and having clutched driving connection between said gear and shaft, said connection being accessi-blethrough the shaft from the outer end thereof.

32. In an axle, -in combination, ing structure, oppositely facing in said struc we, a lateral driving shaft between said gears, bearings for said shaft outside of said gears, driving pinionson said shaft and in mesh with the respective gears, a bearing retaining piece for one of said bearings, a thrust piece for one of said pinions, and a single locking device for both in combination, a support In an axle,

, mounted on I an axle shaft 'havlng its outer end' a support' bevel gears ing structure, oppositely facing bevel in said structure, a lateral. driving she the- ITS

tween said gears, bearings for said shaft outside of said gears, drivin pinions on said shaft and in mesh with t e respective geaw, a bearing retaining piece for one (if said bearings, a thrust piece for one to the driving shaft. A In an axle, in combination, ing structure, a gear mounted on I unit at the middle ofsaid structure, a wh bearings at one end' gi'of said structure,

connected to andsupported by said Wheel,

and a detachable'but rigidly clutched driving connection between said 35. In an axle, in combination, ing structure, a gear mounted on a bearin unit directly in and at the middle of sai structure, a, wheel mounted on rings at one end of said structure, an axle shaft having its outer end connected by said wheel and havin tnchably connected .direct In testimony whereof I BENJAMIN BARROW.

its inner end dey to said gear.

to and supported gear and shaft;

asupporti aflix my signature.

at i i d and a single locking dBVlOB adapted to prevent both said pieces turning relative,

a bearin I I 

